Solzhenitsyn was quoted again in the Kremlin today. In the Catherine Hall, the president presented state prizes in the fields of human rights work and charity. The recipients were those whose help and support can't be overestimated.
Denis Davydov will continue.
The prizes for human rights work and charity weren't established long ago; this is the third time they've been presented The ceremony takes place in the Kremlin in December. It's usually timed to Human Rights Day. Today, it coincided with Constitution Day.
People who care are sitting in the front row. The sincere desire to help is the driver for each prize-winner. Empathy is in the blood of Russians. Solzhenitsyn wrote about it. The president quoted him today.
Vladimir Putin: "The air of social relations; its purity is superior to the level of prosperity, industrial development, or even the government. It determines the life of the country and its future. Dear laureates, you strive to ensure that no one is left alone with his or her misfortune, that everyone would feel help and support at the right moment. it means that you create and strengthen an atmosphere of justice and good that is so necessary for all of us, society, and the state".
Lev Ambinder has been managing the Rusfond for more than 20 years. It's all started as a newspaper department where someone should sort out letters appealing for help. Today, the fund has saved more than 20,000 children raising more than 1 billion rubles ($15 million) per year.
Lev Ambinder: "We don't replace the state budget. We add to it. We work on the base of Russian hospitals which are not fully financed from the state budget. We fill the gaps by providing our great doctors the opportunity to do their job".
- We used to walk in masks at home to protect him.
- Did you panic?
He's yawning and doesn't have a clue what the masks and panic they're talking about are. Misha was born with primary immunodeficiency, meaning his immune system doesn't work. Any nearby cough could be lethal for him. Rusfond allocated the money for the operation but it was much more difficult to find a donor. There was 1-in-10,000 chance that the DNA would match. Misha was lucky — he has a genetically identical twin who is ready to share her bone marrow.
Natalia Kelsina, donor: "It went nicely. My bone marrow struggled long. Even the blood type changed to mine".
"Natasha is my donor. She saved my life".
They're like family now, the boy is getting better thanks to the donor and sponsors.
Vladimir Putin: "Without exaggeration, every life saved is priceless. I want to sincerely thank all of those who consider it their duty to respond to the pain of others".
Mikhail Terentyev, the chairman of the All-Russian Society of Disabled People, received a state award for human rights activities. There was a resonant case when handicapped people weren't allowed on a plane. One day his patience grew thin and Terentyev appealed to the Ministry of Transport and Rosaviatsiya. For the sake of disabled people, the air laws were changed.
Mikhail Terentyev: "The law is the law. But to ensure that the laws are followed there should be active members of public organizations to point out the problems".
Vladimir Putin: "Caring for the needs of people with disabilities is becoming the norm, any attempts to discredit them, cases of unfair treatment cause a sharp negative reaction from our citizens. If truth be told we are only at the beginning of the path. There's so much to do".
Mikhail Terentyev remained even during the ceremony. He handed over a letter to the president with a request to protect a disabled person.
- Mr. Putin, there's a letter.
- Misha, we don't lose anything. Just to make sure.
- Yes, they've taken it already.
Vladimir Putin thanked the prize-winners once more and called their deeds "common to all of mankind".
Denis Davydov, Margarita Avayan, Victor Vinogradov, Andrei Baraukhin, Natalia Lundovskaya, Konstantin Rodin, Vesti.
